Could Certain Traffic Violations in NJ Lead to Deportation?

While most people generally understand that certain felonies and sometimes misdemeanors may constitute Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude, it is less understood that under certain circumstances, even traffic violations may rise to the level of crimes of moral turpitude. DWIs can, under aggravating conditions, get you deported. A recent case from the Board of Immigration Appeals from this year goes further and confirms that driving in a manner indicating a wanton or willful disregard for the lives or property of others while in the course of eluding a police officer in pursuit–at least as codified in Washington–is also a crime of moral turpitude. It is, of course, more complicated, but the decision does loosen the boundaries of what can potentially be a deportable offense. Foreign born residents of New Jersey charged with an offense involving elements of reckless driving and eluding should read the decision. The case is Matter of Armando RUIZ-LOPEZ from June 30, 2011, and can be found on the EOIR website.